Sponsored chapter (2/5)
All eyes focused on him.
Yu Baihan tilted his head slightly, asking, “What’s going on?”
The hardware wholesalers quickly averted their gaze, huddling together like a group of silent quails.
Lu Huan turned to him, pursing his lower lip.
As Yu Baihan approached Lu Huan, someone grabbed his wrist.
Amidst the dim and ambiguous lighting, Lu Huan’s cold countenance appeared even more enchanting, and his lowered eyes were so profound that they could make one’s heart skip a beat.
Lu Huan murmured, “Who is the fish?”
“……？”
The four golden flowers huddled together behind them, sneakily observing.
Yu Baihan took a moment to react, then:
He extended his hand to poke Lu Huan, raising his head to inquire, “What do you think?”
“I don’t know.” Lu Huan gazed at him, paused, and calmly stated, “Adding a heart signifies a very close relationship, doesn’t it?”
“Yes, very close.” Under Lu Huan’s suddenly deepening gaze, Yu Baihan lightly patted Lu Huan’s serious and handsome face, remarking, “After all, we have to kiss every day~”
“……”
Lu Huan froze for an instant.
The hardware wholesalers also peeked behind their hands one after another.
After a couple of seconds, Lu Huan gently blinked his lowered eyelashes and said, “Is it me?”
“Did you take a look?” Yu Baihan pulled out his phone and held it under Lu Huan’s nose. The chat box belonging to Lu Huan featured a “blue fish” emoji, followed by a heart.
Lu Huan’s cool demeanor instantly melted, and he let out a light hum.
The hardware wholesalers collectively breathed a sigh of relief.
Wen Lou patted his chest, elated, “That’s great; it turns out Brother Lu is a fish!”
As the words hung in the air, everyone fell into silence.
Collective eyes turned toward him once more with a “swipe–.”
Wen Lou: …
Lu Huan turned to Yu Baihan and hooked his finger, whispering in a low voice that only the two of them could hear, “So, why am I a fish?” He continued, “Because our Baihan are making waves?”
Yu Baihan, “…”
Is he playing word games again?
With an accusatory tone, he responded, “Who came up with this~” What a lovely pun he crafted!
He pulled Lu Huan to sit in the booth, and Qi Jue beside him had already timely ordered drinks for him. Yu Baihan was one meter away from them, leaning in front of Lu Huan and pointing, “Your avatar before…”
He corrected himself, “Deep sea. Adding a small fish for you to swim freely at the bottom of the sea, isn’t that nice~”
Lu Huan’s fingertips trembled slightly.
As if a swimming fish abruptly entered his heart, with a flick of its tail, it stirred up the deep and silent seawater.
His dark eyes shifted, and his fingertips lifted.
Just before meeting Yu Baihan’s face, the person in front of him suddenly turned away and then back.
Yu Baihan, slightly inebriated, squinted his eyes cheerfully, “Besides, it’s so easy to be caught~” =u=
Lu Huan:.
Lu Huan:?
A vision of orange suddenly flashed in his mind—the “fish substitute” at home.
Lu Huan’s expression darkened as he quietly stared at the person.
After Yu Baihan’s playful remark, he turned to face Lu Huan’s more intense gaze: …
Um? What happened to him? OuO
He was currently gazing up at Lu Huan.
We’re sorry for MTLers or people who like using reading mode, but our translations keep getting stolen by aggregators so we’re going to bring back the copy protection. If you need to MTL please retype the gibberish parts.
Afa-yijmx tjlg ygertfv jujlcra tlr ygbkr, jcv atf ktlaf rtlga bc tlr ybvs ygbeuta j oiert ab tlr mbwqifzlbc. Llr fsfr uifjwfv rb yglutais atja atfs mjqalnjafv atf tfjgar bo bcibbxfgr.
Oe Lejc byrfgnfv tlw klat ibkfgfv fsfr obg j ofk rfmbcvr, atfc oeggbkfv tlr ygbkr jcv fztjifv kjgw jlg. Lf abemtfv Te Djltjc’r tfjafv ojmf klat atf yjmx bo tlr tjcv, jrxlcu, “Lbk wemt vlv sbe vglcx?”
Yu Baihan held up two fingers, “This much!”
“……”
Qi Jue and the others behind him turned their heads to look.
Lu Huan glanced at Qi Jue, receiving a confirming nod from him, then shifted his gaze back to Yu Baihan’s face, advising, “Specially mixed drinks have a strong kick, so drink less.”
Yu Baihan held up three fingers with glee, saying, “Sure thing~”
Lu Huan: …
Top-shelf drinks indeed have their impact.
—
After Lu Huan arrived, the Hardware Wholesalers started playing dice.
Playing dice in such a setting usually meant a drinking penalty for the losers. Yu Baihan was playing enthusiastically, and with each gulp of wine down his throat, his face grew progressively redder.
Lu Huan intervened to spare Yu Baihan from half of the penalty drinks.
Having just come from another engagement, Lu Huan was still in formal attire. As the effects of the drinks took hold, he loosened his tie, revealing a portion of his flushed neck.
Yu Baihan gazed warmly:
Oh… so he can also loosen his tie? Well, Lu Huan is present, so why not let it loose?
Pondering this, Yu Baihan lowered his head and unbuttoned his shirt.
Observing that Lu Huan next to him made no comment, he simply requested a glass of ice water from a nearby waiter, saying, “Have some of this.”
Yu Baihan leaned over absentmindedly, “Oh…”
After a few rounds of games, Lu Huan’s phone rang.
It was likely a call from a business partner, as he picked up, frowned, and stood up, declaring, “I’ll answer this call.”
Even though their booth was relatively quiet, the distant sound of music and chatter from passersby could still be heard.
Lu Huan left with his mobile phone to answer the call elsewhere.
Once he was gone, the group continued playing games.
Having consumed a considerable amount of water earlier, Yu Baihan found himself needing to use the bathroom. Seeing Qi Jue and the others still engrossed in their game, he announced, “I’m going to the bathroom” and stood up.
A few people half-heartedly responded, “Hmm…”
The hardware wholesalers continued their dice game in the dim lighting until Lu Huan returned after concluding his call.
Lu Huan surveyed the people above him, asking, “Where’s Bai Han?”
The innocent critics in front of him raised their heads, their faces bright red: …?
Under Lu Huan’s piercing gaze, Qi Jue, now suddenly sober, stammered, “Baihan mentioned going to the bathroom; he just left.”
Regaining his wits, Qi Jue was taken aback once more, “Why don’t you go and find Brother Lu? A handsome and well-behaved guy like Baihan is especially susceptible to the wrong crowd…”
Before he could finish, Lu Huan had already turned and departed.
…
Meanwhile, Yu Baihan was making his way through the front of the bar.
The bar counter, situated at the center, was the brightest spot in the entire establishment.
As he navigated through the boisterous crowd and the thumping music, two figures suddenly approached, blocking his path.
Yu Baihan looked up:?
Before him stood two unfamiliar men, both taller than him, effectively obstructing his passage. Growing slightly wary, he quipped, “No home, no gym, no healthcare.”
All the promotions are gone!
“……”
The pair exchanged glances, smiling before directing their attention back to him, “A good student? First time at a bar, huh?”
Yu Baihan narrowed his eyes: Ah, they’re trying to pick me up.
Amidst the chaos around him, his crisp and tidy white shirt and the slightly unbuttoned neckline on his flushed face stood out.
He retorted, “Are you the orientation guide?” As if he cares about students.
People have three urgencies, Yu Baihan turned to leave with his next remark. But as he took a step to the side, his arm was seized by one of the men in front of him.
“Hey, don’t go.”
Yu Baihan frowned, and just as he was about to speak, a hand suddenly extended from behind him, grabbing the hand of the man in front that was restraining him! Veins popped up on the back of the hand—
“…Ah!” The man on the opposite side let go with a yelp of pain.
In the next moment, Yu Baihan was pulled back by a force, turning to face a familiar embrace.
He raised his head with a flutter in his heart, “Lu Huan!”
Before him was a sharp and firm jawline.
Lu Huan stood at the bar entrance, arms wrapped around Yu Baihan. Under the clear lighting, a potent coldness emanated from his handsome and aloof features.
Though Lu Huan was also dressed in a manner inconsistent with the tumultuous atmosphere, his impeccably tailored suit exuded an air of authority, leaving the others stunned.
Lu Huan gazed fixedly and proclaimed in a deep voice, “Get lost.”
Yu Baihan: This is the first time Little Deer Lu has ever used such language.
He encircled Lu Huan’s waist, pressing his face against his chest: Uncle Feng’s novels must have influenced him a lot, right?
Ah~ so forceful.
Many eyes from the surrounding crowd were already on them.
The faces of the two men opposite twisted in displeasure, but knowing they couldn’t provoke Lu Huan, they could only leave muttering, “You have a companion and ran out to hang around…”
Lu Huan’s gaze turned icy, and he spoke coldly, “It’s your inability to control yourselves; he can’t be led astray at will.”
Not far away, a tall girl slammed the table with a loud “bang,” adding, “That’s right! Look after yourselves!”
The two men clenched their teeth, glaring fiercely at Lu Huan.
Yu Baihan hurriedly pulled away from Lu Huan, saying, “It’s alright, Lu Huan.”
Lu Huan regarded him with a stern expression, “Don’t worry…”
Yu Baihan was on the brink of tears, desperately tugging on Lu Huan’s clothes and whispering, “But I really can’t hold it anymore! Hurry up!”
Who remembers that he originally came for the bathroom!
Lu Huan: …
Pausing for a moment, he took a deep breath, glanced at the two men beside him, and then headed to the bathroom, leading the way like a proud white radish.
—
The two headed to the bathroom.
As they passed the mirror, Yu Baihan caught a glimpse of his open neckline and flushed, porcelain-white skin—it was indeed quite…
He moistened his lips quickly, pressed his neckline, and inquired of Lu Huan, “Should I button it up?”
“No, if it’s uncomfortable, don’t force it.” Lu Huan stood behind him, pursed his lower lip, and urged, “Go on.”
Yu Baihan hesitated for a moment, and then his heart suddenly surged.
His hands dropped from the neckline.
Without delay, he took two brisk steps forward, closed the gap between him and Lu Huan, hooked his arms around Lu Huan’s neck, raised his eyes, and whispered, “Lu Huan, you know, the bathrooms in bars…”
Lu Huan frowned!
His Adam’s apple bobbed, and he retorted in a deep voice, “I’m in no hurry now; are you?”
“……” Hiss!
The sensation of concealed heartbeats suddenly overwhelmed him.
Yu Baihan turned his head and hastily entered a cubicle.
Bang!
Emerging from the cubicle, Yu Baihan washed his hands and splashed cold water on his flushed face.
Lu Huan handed him a paper towel and wiped away the water droplets for him.
Exiting the bathroom, Lu Huan enveloped him, guiding him through the crowd and back to their booth.
Upon their return, Qi Jue and the others approached:
“Why did it take so long?”
“Are you alright? I overheard someone saying there was commotion at the bar. Was that you?”
Lu Huan hummed lightly.
Yu Baihan explained the recent events to the group, and Qi Jue fumed, “I’ll have my friends check the surveillance later. We shouldn’t allow troublemakers like that in the bar!”
After venting his frustration, he sighed again, “Oh… I did say you’re an easy target for bad men.”
Yu Baihan glanced sideways:?
Well, that explains the target on his back.
…
The group continued to drink and play in the booth for a while.
As Yu Baihan’s alcohol tolerance increased, his body grew warmer, and his entire face turned crimson. Sun Yiqing, seated directly across from him, took notice, then turned to Lu Huan, “Brother Lu.”
With that, Lu Huan redirected Yu Baihan’s attention.
Lu Huan examined his expression, asking, “Are you still awake?”
Yu Baihan was fairly lucid, but his body felt hot, and his mind was hazy. Simultaneously, he was exhilarated.
At that moment, Lu Huan’s fingertips brushed against his cheek.
He snorted softly, wrapped his arms around Lu Huan’s waist, positioned his chin near Lu Huan’s mouth, and planted his lips on Lu Huan’s Adam’s apple, murmuring, “Yeah.”
Lu Huan’s body trembled, and his breathing became uneven.
The four golden flowers on the opposite side gasped: … Damn!
Lu Huan extended his arms to hold Yu Baihan, who raised his face again and inquired, “Aren’t you going to kiss?” It was a clear request for a kiss.
Several pairs of eyes fixated on him with eager anticipation.
The hardware wholesalers clenched their fists in excitement, blushing and urging, “Hurry up, hurry up! Give us a kiss, don’t treat us like outsiders. We’ve seen it all before!”
Lu Huan tightened his embrace, and under the dim lighting, the faint red on the base of his ears wasn’t clearly visible. His throat moved, and he reprimanded in a low voice, “Don’t cause a scene.”
Hardware wholesalers, “???”
“Brother Lu! Are you even a man?”
In the next moment, Lu Huan stood up, still holding Yu Baihan.
Qi Jue and the others fell silent beside him.
Lu Huan embraced Yu Baihan and glanced at the group, stating, “Let’s head back.”
After he spoke, he led the way, taking Yu Baihan with him.
As the two disappeared into the lively crowd, Qi Jue and the others looked at each other, a mix of regret and disbelief:
“They didn’t even kiss…”
“So many couples kiss at events, why not now?”
“Is Brother Lu a block of wood?”
“Alas, twenty, waterbed, no longer dazzling.”
“……”
Outside the bar, Fan Lin, informed in advance, had parked his car at the entrance.
Lu Huan walked out with Yu Baihan in his arms.
The street’s bright lights illuminated Lu Huan’s flushed face and neck momentarily.
Yu Baihan turned his head and tapped the side of his neck once more.
Lu Huan took a deep breath, opened the car door, settled Yu Baihan inside, and slammed the door shut!
The windows cut off the view of the outside world.
The restrained voice could no longer contain the surging emotions, and a slender hand rapped on the backrest of the front seat. “Fan Lin.”
In the driver’s seat, Fan Lin instantly understood, “Yes.”
The partition rose from the center.
In the moment before his sight was completely blocked, Fan Lin glanced in the rearview mirror, and his heart skipped a beat!
In the gradually closing gap, Lu Huan, their usually composed and indifferent gentleman, held Yu Baihan in his arms with one hand. His face was flushed, and he kissed fervently—
Bang, the shutter closed in the next instant.
